Folding cot or bed



June 27, 1950 E. GoTTLlEB FOLDING COT OR BED 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Filed July 5, 1947 June 27, 1950 E. Go'rTLlEB FOLDING coT 0R BED 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR.

June 27, 1950 E. GoTTLn-:B 2,513,167

FOLDING COT OR BED Filed July 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 27,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING COT OR BED Edward Gottlieb,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,090

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding cotsand beds.

The invention more particularly relates to a folding cot or a bed whichis provided with a pair of pivotally connected crossed legs at one endand a single leg at the other end. Cots and beds of this type are foldedby lifting the end with the single leg and swinging it around over theend with the crossed legs. Heretofore the linkage used in automaticallyfolding the legs when the cot or bed was folded closed, projected abovethe mattress supporting surface of the cot or bed. The height of themattress was relied upon to support a person above the projecting linksto prevent injury. However, in a short time the mattress sags and thenthe cot or bed may be dangerous. Men may be ruptured by sitting downunintentionally on the linkage. Women may also be seriously injured.

It is an important object of this invention to avoid projecting anyoperating linkage above the mattress supporting surface of the foldingcot or bed.

Another object of the invention resides in so constructing theconnecting linkage that the folding cot or bed when in an open positionwill be locked open so as not to accidentally close when a personsweight is placed on any point on the cot or bed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the cot or bed thatit will not sag or bend at the center under a persons weight while in anopen condition.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a folding cot orbed embodying the advantages outlined above, which is simple and durableand which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma- Fig. 5 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewtaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

f Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line'l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating thecot or bed in a partially folded closed position.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating thecot or bed completely folded closed.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of Fig. 10 looking inthe direction of the line II--II thereof.

Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of Fig. 11 but illustrated withcertain front parts broken away to disclose underparts., j

The folding cot or bed, in accordance with this invention, includes amattress supporting frame I5 having a horizontal U-shaped head sectionI6,.a horizontal U-shaped foot section Il,

a pair of horizontal central arm sections I8 between and pivotallyconnected with the opposed ends of the arms of said U-shaped sections IBand I l, and a flexible mattress support member I8 mounted between saidsections I6, I'I and I8. The head section I6 is pivotally connected withthe central arm sections I8 with pintle rivets 20. The foot section I'Iis pivotally connected with thecentral arm sections I8 with pintlerivets 2|.

The sections I6, I'I and I8 are formed from angle members arranged withone of their arms horizontally at the top and extended inwards, and theother of their arms outside and extended vertically downwards. Thecentral arm sections I8 are setupon the ends of the arms of the U-shaped head section I6 and the pintles- 20 are engaged through theadjacent vertical arms of the angle members forming said sections I6 andI8. Thel ends of thearms of rthe U-shaped foot section I 'l are set uponthe adjacent ends of the central arm sections I8 and the pintle rivets2| are engaged through the adjacent vertical arms of the angle membersforming said sections II and I8. Y

lMeans is provided for limiting downward pivoting of the horizontalcentral arm sections I8 in relation with said .horizontal U-shaped headsectionV I6 and for limiting upward pivoting of said horizontal centralarm sections I8 to right angmsginrelatiop tosaid horizontal u-snapaivhead section I6. This limiting means comprises notched-out portions 24formed in the top arms of the angle members forming the central armsections I8. The edge portions of the notches 24 rest upon the endportions of the arms of the U-shaped head section I6 and in this way thecentral arm sections I8 are limited from pivoting downwards. The notches24 are so designed that, the. central arm sections. i8 may pivot upwardsto positions at right angles to the head section I8 and then the edgesof the notches 24' strike the top face of the head section IB, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 12.

Means is also provided for limiting downwardpivoting of the horizontalU-shaped foot section I 'I in relation with said horizontal central armsections I8 and limiting upward pivoting. of said horizontal U-shapedfoot section I'I to right angles with and in relation to said'horizontal central arm sections I8. This means comprises notched-outportions'25'formed in thetop arms of the angle members formi-ng the U-shaped' foot section IIL The edge portions of the notches 25 rest on theedge portions of the central arm sections I8 limiting downward-A plv#vroting of the foot section I'Ilv in relation with said horizontal centralarm section-s I8. "ll-her foot section I1 may Ipivot upwardsto rig/htangles in relation to said horizontalcentral arm` sections I8'rv inwhich positionsV the edges of the notches 25 will strike thev top faceslof thecentral arm sections IB, as clearly illustrated in Fig'. 12".'

Said exible mattress support member' |91 may be of any design andconstruction. It illus'- trated as a sheet of canvas or other clothV ma?terial` which is mounted betweeny the sections IG-, IF and; I8V with aplurality oiisprings 2T con# necting the edge portions of said slieetwithjth'e top' arms of the angle' members forIn-ingf the sections I6',I'I- and P91" A single leg 28\ piv otally connected with said footYsection Ilf at aI point near itsL outer' end' and' extends downwards.This single leg,- 28 is of' Ueshape hav;- ing a il'at` bottom portion 29which rests on the noon. and arms 3'I' extending upwardly andpivotallyconnected'bypintlesw to the inside faces of the vertical arms oik theangle members forming, the foot section I'I.A

A pair .of pivotall'y connected, cross legs '3221: and 33 have the innerones of' theirk top ends pivotally` connected with said head section I6- nearsaid central arm sections F8 with saidpintle rivets 20 which arealso used`r to pivotally con'y nect theA head section I6' with thejcentralarm sections I8. The outer' ends of the crossed legs 32 and 33vhave their top ends; slidablyconnected'- with the head sectionv IS byLpintle' sliderivets 34 slidablyf'engaging in'- sl'otsl 35i-formed'inthevertical arms or the Aangle memberv form'i ing the headV sectionI6.' Theseslide rivets" 3@ and slots 35 vare neark the' outer end oftheheadAA section L6.; The leg 3%" isl or Iii-shape'havingl a flat bottomv36E andside arms' 3'Ii` It1 is con'-l structed' of angle materialarranged withfonel of its arms verticall and at v,the out posi-tion;andi the other of theirl arms extending 'inwards and' at the downposition; The leg 33; is also of` UL shape having a relatively-v atbottom 39r and side arms 40. The legI 33 is formed of flat ma: terial.The sidearms 3l' and* 40 ofv said legs 32 and 33 are pivotally'connected withv each' other withpintles 4I. Casters, 42 are mountedvupon' the bottom portions of the'v crossed legs' 32" and"3,3 andnormallyrest on the ground; An angle memberbrac'e 43'is mountedfbetween' theside arms 3l of the leg 32 at a point between the pivots 4I and theslide rivets 34 for reinforcing the leg structure. The upper ends of theside arms 31 are disposed adjacent the inner iaces of the vertical armsof the angle member forming the head sections I6.

Stretcher rods 45 positioned below the top of the mattress support framei5 pivotally conneet with the slide rivets 34 of. said leg 32 andpivotally connect with oney of the sections of the frame I5 other thansection I 6, at a point in the vicinity of the pivot points of saidsections il and I 8. More particularly, the stretchery rods 45 pivotallyconnect with the central arm sections I8 by the pintle rivets 46. Thecentral arm sections I8 have end portions 4l adjacentthe; end of thefoot section I'I bent downwards, for example see Fig. 4. The pintlerivets 48 are mounted upon these down bent ends 4l. The pintle rivets 46are located short distances beneatl'r the pintlesV 2i so as to lock thecentral arm section-s: I8.Y with respect to the head section I6 whenthe. cot or Ibed is'. in the open position Aas illustrated in Fig. 2*; AU- shaped Ibra-ce 49 rigidlyl connects the said.r cen-y tral? armsectionsi I8. This brace 49 is1 formed' from angle.I material. It. has arelatively datv bottom. 58. andi side arms 5I. The side arms 5I extend'upwards and engage the inner faces of the'sid'e arms of the anglematerial' forming the central armf sections l'and.' are welded at thesepoints. to: said central' arm sections I8'.

Ti'e'rod's1-5'3 are disposed' below the top of the mattress support.frame I5 and' are connected with said centrallarm-sections. I8; morespecifi'- cally; with the downturned end portions 41' thereof, withCpin-tlerivets, 54. The tie rods 53: extend.4 towardsv the single leg 28`and are piv. otally connected therewith with pintle rivets 55. In ordertok prevent Ibinding of the parts washers 56' are engagedu'pon thepintle rivets 551'between the tie rods 53. andv the single legV 28.

Washers 5'I are engaged upon the pintle 54T be-4 tween thel downturnedends 4'! and the tie rods 53'. The downturned ends 4l are formedv withnotches 581 formed irrone of the arms of' the angle materi'aifrom whichthe central arm sectionsl P81 are made, so asto provide room for the tierods 53 to pivot during the closing of thel cotor bed?. The end portions530i the tierods 53' arey suitably bent or oifset so that the tie rods53 may extend upwards along the sides of the downturned end portions 41,as for example illustratedfin Fig. 9, during the folding opera tion ofthe bedlv Washers 60 are engaged on the pintlerivets 46 between theend'sof the stretcher rods 45" and the downturned portions 41 of the armsections I 8. Moreover. the end portions 6I oi" the stretcher rods 45'are bent outwardly (see particul'arly-r Fig. 3) sor` as-v to make roomfor thel moving ofthe-stretcher rods 45 when the cot or l-loed isJfolded' closed. Washers 62 are engaged upon the pintley slide rivets 34betweenthe upper ends of" the-leg 32- and theY vertical arms oil theangle member forming the head section IS. Washersy may also be engagedat other points, ybut only the more important points havebeen clearlyspeciedl Resilientmeans is connected between the lbottom end portionsofthe crossed legs 32v and 33'l for assisting in opening thefolding cotor' bed after 'it' has beenV closed. This resilient means comprisesangle members B5 pivotally connected' byv pintles 64 with thebottomportions ofthe side arms 40 of the leg 33. Tension springs BSI areconnected with the angle `members 65 and with brackets 61 mountedv upon`the side arms 31 of the leg 32.l Casters`68 laremounted upon the `outerends of the head'section I6 and foot secti-on I'I. The outer ends ofsaid sections I3 and I'I are, also providedl with a latch compris'- inga headed stud 69 mounted' upon the head section I6 and cooperative witha pivotally mounted bolt 'l0' mounted on the foot section Il. 4'Ihe bolt'I0 is pivotallyrsupported with a pintle II (see Fig. 6). The outer endof the bolt 'Hly is provided' with a bayonetslot 'I2 en# gageable on theVheaded stud 69 forl locking the cotor bed closed. l

The operation of the folding cot and bed may be understood from thefollowing: j

In Figs. 1 and 2 the cot or Ibed is 'shown in'its open position. It maybe folded closed by manually gripping the foot section I1 .andv pivotingit upwards until it assumes a position atright angles to the central armsections I8, as illustrated in Fig. 9. This automatically folds closedthe single leg 28. Then the foot section I1 is further` moved so as tocause the central arm sections I8 to pivot upwards'handtso as to disposethe foot section I'I above the-*head section I6, as illustrated in Fig.10.` During. this motion `the stretcher rods d5 `will automatically movethe slide rivets 34 alongV the slots 35 and fold closed thecrossedlegsr32 and 33. The latch bolt is nowengaged-onthe headed stud69. Itlshould be understood-that a mattress, not illustrated, for thefolding bed orcot may be tied to and remain thereon while it is foldedand will assume a position in the space loetween the foot section I7 andhead section I8.

For clarity of illustration the single leg 28 has not been shown fullylclosed in Fig. 10. It may be squeezed downwards into a lower positionsubstantially into the plane of the foot section Il. Similarly, thecross legs 32 and 33 are not illustrated fully closed. Pressure may beapplied upon the top of the cot so as to fold these legs further so thatthey are substantially in a common plane with the head section I6. Inthe further folded position of the crossed legs 32 and 33 the members 65and springs 66 will assume positions substantially across the pintles 4Ilocking the cross legs 32 and 33 in a closed position.

The bed or cot may be reopened by first opening the latch bolt I0 andthen pulling upwards on the single leg 28, and nally lifting the footsection Il to pivot it upwards so that the central arm sections I8 turnback to their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 9. When the partsassume this position the crossed legs 32 and 33 will automatically open.During this motion it may be necessary to pull upwards on the footsection I'l and -slightly shake the cot to cause the folded crossed legs32 and 33 to drop slightly downwards, or the operator may step with onefoot on the crossed legs 32 while pulling upwards on the foot sectionI'I so as to force the crossed legs downwards out of their lockedposition. Immediately the springs 66 will assist in opening the crossedlegs to their full positions. Finally, the foot section I1 is droppeddownwards to its horizontal position which automatically o-pens thesingle leg 28 and now the cot is again as illustrated in Fig. 2.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that thestretcher rods 45 and the tie rods 53 are below the mattress supportingsurface of the mattress support frame I5. For

this reason ino matter how badly'a mattress on the 'cot iorbedlsagsorbecomes worn-there is no possibility? of la. person-sittingdown onupwardly projecting parts which might cause injury. A nother importantfeature ofk the vinvention `resides in the specific arrangement vofthecentralarm sections I8 'and the stretcher rods 45`iand tie rods 53.ThisA arrangement is such-v as fto lock the parts in their openpositions resistingfdownward sagging at the center of the cot 4or bedwhile in the open position.A The cot or bed can onlyy be closedbylifting the outer endsfof the foot section I1 o'r the head section I6,or bothA simultaneously, butthe cot cannot be closed by downwardpressure at its center.

While I have illustrated and described the 'preferred embodiment ofmyinvention, it is tobe understood that' I do not'limit myself to theprecise construction herein' disclosed andthe right is reserved'tof-allfchanges and modifications coming within the fscope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims; l f l Having thus"described .my` invention, whatI claim'as'mew' and desire to' secure byUnited States Letters Patentis:

1. Injalfolding cot'or bed,"a mattress'support frame having a'horizontal' U-shaped head section; a horizontal U-shaped'foot section,a pair of horizontalfcentral arm sections between and pivotallyconnected'with the opposed end's of the arms of said U-shaped"sections`,and a flexible mattress support member mounted between said sections,means for limiting downward pivoting Ofsaid horizontalfcentralarmsections in relation with'sa'id horizo'ntaIU-shaped head section, meansfor limiting downward pivoting of said horizontal U-shaped foot sectionin relation with said horizontal central arm sections, a single legpivotally connected with said foot section at a point near its outer endand extending downwards, a pair of pivotally connected crossed legshaving the inner one of their top ends pivotally connected with saidhead sections near said central arm sections and having the outer one oftheir top ends slidably connected with said head section near the outerend of the head section, stretcher rods below the top of said mattresssupport frame in order that persons sitting on said cot or bed cannotpossibly be hurt by said stretcher rods projecting above said mattresssupport frame, and said stretcher rods being pivotally connected withthe slidable end of said crossed legs and pivotally connected with oneof said sections other than said head section at a point in the Vicinityof the pivot points of said sections, and tie rods below the top of saidmattress support frame in order that persons sitting on said cot or bedcannot possibly be hurt by said tie rods projecting above said mattresssupport frame, and said tie rods being pivotally connected with saidcentral arm sections and with said single leg at points below the pivotsof said sections. d

2. In a folding cot or bed, a horizontal mattress support frame havingthree adjacent horizontal sections in single rile and in end alignmentwith each other, said three sections being designated first, second andthird,- respectively, from one end of said single le to the other end,means for pivotally connecting together the adjacent ends of saidadjacent sections, means for limiting pivoting of said adjacent sectionsdownwards from said horizontal position, a pair of pivotally connectedcrossed legs beneath said first section and having the inner end oftheir top ends pivotally connected-'withssai nrs i seetiom ata@ ness'said second sections ondchaying; theouterfonef, of their-f top;ends-simonly: connected withssadzfxrst seetiomnean tneouterfendstlreroofa eodxstreteher rodsrfonf closingsy saidvorosodaless;:whenssadeseos ond; andi third seetonsfaref @Metodi-onwardsrelate duetto; saidfrstseetiomsaid stsetener rodsv beine pit/:otaliyconnected, with thefsldeblefend of seid crossed; legsfandApivotallssoonneetedtwitte one of said; sections other than;s-eidirst-seetioosond sais stretcher. rods beine; below-x the ton et;seid mattress sunpostieeme wleile-fssidiramefis; itshorizontal-.position erden that; persons sitting emsaidrootorbedioannottnossiblsfbeiflslirtbaseid stretcher rods projecting abou@saidv mattress supportiromef.;

3: Ina ioloineoetsosbed; othorioontetmottsess sonnent frame: hay-meaediaeoent horizontal seetionsv in single: filefand/ end; alienmentwitheaehtothet; said' tbr ee seotons loting; desienated 11net. seeond andttmsd.Y respeotiyeiyeiimm; one; end of said single Iile to the otheronmmeenstos pvotally eonneetinsf. togethetvthe ff adiaeent ends os saidadjaeentfseetionsemeensffois limitinesnivs oting of said adjacentseionssdnwnwsdse from said;horizeritaliposition, een 'r offinisotellaoonnetted crossed.leesfbeneatlrsod rstzseotioorend' having the;endottleeir top. .,-ndspsoteiis connected with; said`V rst. section atat seidzseeond section; and havinszthef enter one'ofthe-r ton endssiidaleiiz:A oenneotedi withy said;A irst seotio-is mean the@` entes endtheeeot; sts-.atmen resistor clos-ina said crossed less; when: saisissees ond and third-.seotionsfate piyoted: upwards telas tivetoesaidf-irstfseetionf,d saidistretoher rodslee.

iniepitotollt'f oonneeted with the.- sldable end of seid., crossed, leesand. pivotallwoonneeted with one off; said section-sf other.` than Said*first, section', and: said stretcher rods being below the: top. of saidmattress support, trarne whilev said -flalrlloL is in; its horiZQntalposition in orderthat, persons sitting. on sadgootorbed cannot possibly,be hurt saidstretcher rods projecting abovesaid mattress. Supportbframe,a single, leg pivotally connected with, said third. section andvextending downwards, andltie rods for closing said single 119g` when,ysaidl secondandgthird sections are pit/- o tedv upwards relativey to,said rst. section, said tie rods being pivotally connected Withsad,seo,- ond section and with said single leg at points below the pivotsyofl said sections, and, said tie rods, being below thel top of saidmattress supportiramein, order thatpersons sitting` on said ooit; or,bed cannot, possibly be hurt by seid; to rods. projecting. above soldimattress support frame..

EDWARD. G20.5I"1.',LI,E.1.3l-v

ItEFERENCES CITED The, following/ references. are., of record. in; the

` filev 0f thisvpatent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS;

